Published on August 15, 2025, 7:35 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary: President Trump and Vladimir Putin have arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska for their high-stakes summit, complete with a flyover by a B-2 stealth bomber.
-While the White House is framing the meeting as a “listening exercise,” allies in Ukraine and Europe fear a repeat of the disastrous 2018 Helsinki summit.
-Analysts warn that with fewer Russia hawks advising him, Trump could be outmaneuvered by Putin and agree to a peace plan that sacrifices Ukrainian interests, comparing the scenario to a modern-day “Yalta Conference.”
Trump Used the U.S. Air Force to Make Putin Think
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived Friday for their summit in Alaska.
And they were flanked by warplanes, what Axios referred to as “an overt display of military muscle.”
It was Trump and Putin’s first in-person meeting in six years, since Trump’s first term. The leaders shook hands, and Putin got into “The Beast,” the presidential limousine, with Trump, which is a rare thing for foreign leaders to do.
The event, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, included both a flyover from a B-2 stealth bomber and four F-35s, while F-22 fighter jets parked on the red carpet.
The flyover took place as the two leaders were walking on the red carpet, and Putin could be seen looking up at them, The Aviationist reported.
Putin, for his part, arrived at the meeting in an Il-96-300PU, described by The Aviationist as “the primary Russian presidential aircraft for long-range travel.” A separate plane, a Tu-214PU, carried other members of the Russian delegation for the summit.
“It offers greater range, cabin space, and comfort, while also carrying secure communication systems. It is used for high-profile state visits and flights where the focus is on endurance and security rather than deployment flexibility,” the Aviationist report said of the Il-96-300PU.
A Very Followed Flight
The report also said that the Tu-214PU flight from Russia was “one of the most-followed flights in Flightradar24 history,” with 400,000 people following the jet’s progress on that site.
The Aviationist also stated that the B-2s were not deployed to Alaska specifically for the summit, but instead had been scheduled to come to the area as part of Exercise Northern Edge 2025.
A Better Landing in Alaska
Back in January, as reported by ABC News and other outlets, an F-35 crashed at Eielson Air Force Base, elsewhere in Alaska, although the pilot was able to eject and survived.
“The pilot is safe and has been transported to Bassett Army Hospital for further evaluation. Emergency crews are responding,” authorities said in a statement at the time.
“Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed in ensuring their safety and security,” said Colonel Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, said at the time, per ABC News. “I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in hopes to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again.”
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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